EA at HRR

Old Crusty

Old Crusty

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Barry Russell, waterways manager, claims that in two days his team at HRR have dealt with 50 incidents but not given any details. Anyone there noticed what the patrol crews have been doing?

Usually it's minor stuff like turning in the navigation channel, swimmers crossing the racecourse, capsized canoes and using Angel Bridge centre arch without radioing for permission. Hardly incidents.
 
Old Crusty said:
Barry Russell, waterways manager, claims that in two days his team at HRR have dealt with 50 incidents but not given any details. Anyone there noticed what the patrol crews have been doing?

Usually it's minor stuff like turning in the navigation channel, swimmers crossing the racecourse, capsized canoes and using Angel Bridge centre arch without radioing for permission. Hardly incidents.
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Wharra' bout copious cups of tea in the posh tea tent...
 
I don't know what they call incidents, but having seen the number of overloaded boats, people diving off boats, incorrect use of the arches etc... it is essential there is a significant EA presense there.
 
Fraction of the corporate hospitality going on.
Locks not manned in high season but EA manage to pose at HRR.
I am sure their presence is vital and the real world would come to a halt without them.
 
Around the rowing HRR is a multi million pound commercial extravaganza which undoubtably benefits from EA presence. Unfortunately it results in a net cost to the EA which has to be covered by the drastically reduced Waterway budget.
Powered craft boaters may wish to reflect on the £4million or so raised from our registration fees compared to the total contribution to the Thames from British Rowing of around £80k p.a.
There is a £20 million hole in EA waterways funding and they seem incapable of identifying and developing new revenue streams to replace the rapidly disappearing grant in aid from the public purse. The few income opportunities they are legally able to pursue won’t raise enough to even touch the sides of this deficit.
They are now proposing further 5.7% increases in registration fees for 2019 and 2020 (10% for the Medway). They will be issuing a “consultation” later this month but it appears likely they have already decided this is a done deal.

 
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And why should EA be responding to 'incidents' for free?

HRR should be providing their own incident management for the event and not depending on EA senior managers, Board Directors and the Chairman - for free! (Elected Board Directors have an honorarium of £350 per day).

As is required -
I volunteer for the Environment Agency (at Bray Lock on Saturdays) but all content I post expresses only my personal opinions and does not necessarily reflect those of the Environment Agency' (Not much left for comment on Twitter!)

The EA presence at HRR is overblown and this years attendance by the CEO and other Directors just demonstrates the sham. It is a junket for the few - and in the interim - locks are 'double manned' eg unmanned and upstream a real 'incident ' occurred yesterday and the navigation is closed
 
Hello Chris d

I don't agree - HRR should police their event or pay EA an appropriate fee for helping them.

They do neither.

Why should my registration and accommodation licence fee subsidise HRR?

'I volunteer for the Environment Agency but all content I post expresses only my personal opinions and does not necessarily those of the Environment Agency'
 
Andy Soper said:
The EA presence at HRR is overblown and this years attendance by the CEO and other Directors just demonstrates the sham. It is a junket for the few - and in the interim - locks are 'double manned' eg unmanned and upstream a real 'incident ' occurred yesterday and the navigation is closed
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I find this years appearance of main board directors and the CEO supporting and retweeting each other quite disturbing - also, their use of the hashtag #welovethamesboating is an insult to our intelligence and only used by their own staff as far as I can see.
 
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Locks unmanned, patrol boats unused until a) the Royal Wedding & b) HRR.

Then all of the boats, all of the Gold Braid and all of the big wigs appear. Money no object for those events.

Something wrong in this approach IMHO.
 
The waterways manager does like dressing up in several uniforms and at public expense. I note that all the waterways staff at these events are now wearing new full no.1 uniforms. We had to make do with cheap pilot shirts and M&S black trousers due to budget restraint. Glad to see my 5.7% licence increase is being put to good use.
 
Old Crusty said:
The waterways manager does like dressing up in several uniforms and at public expense. I note that all the waterways staff at these events are now wearing new full no.1 uniforms. We had to make do with cheap pilot shirts and M&S black trousers due to budget restraint. Glad to see my 5.7% licence increase is being put to good use.
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Perhaps the No.1s were left over from That Wedding which were never really needed?

It's jolly nice to see lockies all spruced up Bristol Fashion occasionally, it raises the tenor of the River and looks good to attract visitors to Our Glorious River (supporting local enterprises)
 
Andy Soper said:
And why should EA be responding to 'incidents' for free?

HRR should be providing their own incident management for the event and not depending on EA senior managers, Board Directors and the Chairman - for free! (Elected Board Directors have an honorarium of £350 per day).

As is required -
I volunteer for the Environment Agency (at Bray Lock on Saturdays) but all content I post expresses only my personal opinions and does not necessarily reflect those of the Environment Agency' (Not much left for comment on Twitter!)

The EA presence at HRR is overblown and this years attendance by the CEO and other Directors just demonstrates the sham. It is a junket for the few - and in the interim - locks are 'double manned' eg unmanned and upstream a real 'incident ' occurred yesterday and the navigation is closed
Click to expand...

++1
Well said Andy.
 
HRR has become a junket for the EA using feeble excuses to host senior staff and even ministers. Credibility gone.

Great to have our Chair @EmmaHowardBoyd and #defra Minister @theresecoffey with us at #HRR18 yesterday helping the recycling plastic message! #welovethamesboating pic.twitter.com/SuGIYoDlo8
 
Yep might as well be, what a load of tosh we have running the EA. Hang your heads in shame. As we pay half the money, cant we have a vote of no confidence?
 
What can they do if a boat has too many people on it?

I also agree that HRR should cough up some cash for the EA presence.
The Henley Rewind and Reading festival employ the services of rescue boats to patrol the waterfront
 
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